Umbrella with offset gore

ABSTRACT

An umbrella includes a shaft and a runner is movably mounted to the shaft. A frame unit is connected to the runner and a top of the shaft. The frame unit extends laterally from the shaft. A first cap and a second cap are connected to the distal end of the frame unit. A rib unit is connected to the frame unit so as to be connected to a gore whose center is located offset from the axis of the shaft. A positioning portion is connected to the top of the shaft or the top of the runner. A positioning rib unit is pivotably connected to the positioning portion. The positioning portion firmly supports the positioning rib unit and the gore when the umbrella is opened.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field Of The Invention

The present invention relates to an umbrella, and more particularly, to an umbrella with an offset gore which is located off from the axis of the shaft so as to cover the user's side

(2) Description Of Related Art

The conventional umbrellas are cataloged into stick umbrellas and folding umbrellas, wherein each of the stick umbrellas and the folding umbrellas generally comprises a shaft which is located at the center of the gore and the gore is supported by the ribs extending from the cap on top of the umbrella. When using the umbrella, the user holds the shaft and opens the gore, wherein the user usually stands slightly behind the gore instead of at the center of the gore. This makes the user's side and back be exposed and get wet when using the conventional umbrella. Besides, because the ribs have a fixed length so that the gore covers a substantial round area and the users usually move the gore slightly ahead, the front edge of the gore is lowered and may the users' sight, this relates to safety concerns.

The present invention intends to provide an umbrella which has a frame unit located offset from the axis of the shaft, the gore is connected to the frame unit so as to protect the user's back and/or side.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an umbrella and comprises a shaft and a runner is movably mounted to the shaft. A frame unit is connected to the runner and a top of the shaft. The frame unit has a first link and a second link, the first and second links are pivotably connected to each other at two respective mediate portions thereof. The frame unit extends laterally from the shaft. The distal end of the first link is connected to a first cap, and the distal end of the second link is connected to a second cap.

A rib unit is connected to the first and second caps. A gore is connected to the rib unit and located offset from an axis of the shaft. A positioning portion is connected to the top of the shaft or the top of the runner. A positioning rib unit is pivotably connected to the positioning portion. The positioning rib unit is pivotably connected to the frame unit. The positioning portion firmly supports the positioning rib unit and the gore when the umbrella is opened.

Preferably, the positioning portion is connected to the top of the shaft. The positioning rib unit has a positioning stretcher which is pivotably connected between the runner and the positioning rib unit.

Preferably, the positioning portion is connected to the top of the runner and has a pivotal hole which is located close to the inside of the center of the umbrella. The positioning rib unit has a main rib which has a second rib pivotably connected to the outer end thereof. The main rib has a positioning hole at the inner end thereof and the first link is pivotably connected to the positioning hole. The main rib and the first link both are pivotably connected to the pivotal hole of the positioning portion.

Preferably, the positioning portion is connected to the top of the runner and has a pivotal hole which is located close to the outside of the center of the umbrella. The positioning rib unit has a main rib which has a second rib pivotably connected to the outer end thereof. The main rib has a positioning hole at the inner end thereof and the first link is pivotably connected to the positioning hole. The main rib and the first link both are pivotably connected to the pivotal hole of the positioning portion.

Preferably, a first pulling unit is connected between the inner end of the second rib and the first link.

Preferably, a second pulling unit or a pair of rods is connected between the inner end of the main rib and the second link.

Preferably, the inner end of the main rib is a V-shaped end or a flat end.

Preferably, the positioning rib unit has a main rib which is pivotably connected to the inside or the outside of the positioning portion .

Preferably, the umbrella is a stick umbrella, a two-stage umbrella or a multiple-stage umbrella.

Preferably, the umbrella is a manual umbrella, an auto-opening umbrella, an auto-folding umbrella, or an auto-opening/auto-folding umbrella.

Preferably, each of the top of the shaft and the top of the runner has one positioning portion.

The positioning portion is connected to the top of the shaft or the top of the runner. The positioning rib unit is pivotably connected to the positioning portion. The positioning rib unit is pivotably connected to the first link of the frame unit. By the positioning portion, the positioning rib unit does not move left and right, and the gore is stably opened when the umbrella is opened.

The present invention has simple structure and can be manufactured at low cost. The present invention is able to be cooperated with the existed umbrellas such as the manual umbrellas, the auto-opening umbrellas, the auto-folding umbrellas, or the auto-opening/auto-folding umbrellas.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the first embodiment of the positioning portion of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view to show the use status of the first embodiment of the positioning portion of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view to show that the first embodiment of the positioning portion of the present invention is cooperated with the positioning stretcher;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view to show that the first embodiment of the positioning portion of the present invention is used on a three-stage folding umbrella;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view to show that the positioning rib unit is pivotably connected to outside of the positioning portion of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a plane view to show that the positioning rib unit is pivotably connected to outside of the positioning portion of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view to show the second embodiment of the positioning portion of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the middle rib of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view to show the third embodiment of the positioning portion of the present invention;

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the middle rib of the present invention shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows the first pulling unit in FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the first pulling unit in FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 shows the first pulling unit in FIG. 8;

FIG. 14 shows another embodiment of the first pulling unit in FIG. 8;

FIG. 15 shows the second pulling unit of the present invention;

FIG. 16 shows another embodiment of the second pulling unit;

FIG. 17 shows that the positioning portion of the present invention is used with an auto-opening umbrella;

FIG. 18 shows that another embodiment of the positioning portion of the present invention is used with an auto-opening umbrella;

FIG. 19 shows that the positioning portion of the present invention is used with a stick umbrella;

FIG. 20 shows that another embodiment of the positioning portion of the present invention is used with a stick umbrella;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the status shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 shows the folding status of an umbrella using the positioning portion of the present invention, and

FIG. 23 shows that the top of the shaft and the top of the runner both have the positioning portion connected thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the umbrella of the present invention comprises a shaft 1 and a runner 2 is movably mounted to the shaft 1. A frame unit 3 is connected to the runner 2 and the top of the shaft 1. The frame unit 3 comprises a first link 31 and a second link 32, wherein the first and second links 31, 32 are pivotably connected to each other at two respective mediate portions thereof. The frame unit 3 extends laterally from the shaft 1. The outer distal end of the first link 31 is connected to a first cap 4, and the outer distal end of the second link 32 connected to a second cap 5. A rib unit 6 is connected to the first and second caps 4, 5. A gore 10 is connected to the rib unit 6 and located offset from the axis of the shaft 1. The frame unit 3 is expanded or folded to activate the first and second caps 4, 5, and to expand the rib unit 6 by moving the runner 2 along the shaft 1.

A positioning portion 7 is connected to the top of the shaft 1 and a positioning rib unit 8 is pivotably connected to the positioning portion 7. The positioning rib unit 8 is pivotably connected to the first link 31 of the frame unit 3. The positioning portion 7 ensures that the positioning rib unit 8 does not move left and right and the gore 10 is stably opened when the umbrella is opened.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the four-stage umbrella whose rib unit 6 has first ribs 61, first middle ribs 62, second middle ribs 63, second ribs 64 and main stretchers 65. The inner end of each first rib 61 is pivotably connected to the first cap 4 and the inner end of each main stretcher 65 is pivotably connected to the second cap 5. The outer end of each main stretcher 65 is pivotably connected to the first middle rib 62. The outer end of each first rib 61 is pivotably connected to the middle portion of the main stretcher 65. The positioning portion 7 is connected to the top of the shaft 1 and the positioning rib unit 8 is pivotably connected to the positioning portion 7. The positioning rib unit 8 has one end pivotably connected to the first link 31 so that when the runner 2 is moved along the shaft 1, the two links of the frame unit 3 are pivotably moved. This activates the first and second caps 4, 5 so that the first ribs 61, first middle ribs 62, second middle ribs 63, second ribs 64 and main stretchers 65 are folded and expanded so as to fold and open the umbrella. The gore 10 is fixed to the rib unit 6 and the top of the first cap 4, the center of the gore 10 is offset from the center of the shaft 1. The positioning portion 7 ensures that the positioning rib unit 8 does not move left and right and the gore 10 is stably opened when the umbrella is opened.

FIG. 3 shows that the positioning stretcher 82 is pivotably connected between the runner 2 and the positioning rib unit 8. The positioning stretcher 82 positions the positioning rib unit 8 such that the positioning rib unit 8 does not move left and right when the umbrella is opened.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show the umbrella is a manual umbrella, a two-stage umbrella or a multiple-stage umbrella, wherein the shown umbrella is a three-stage umbrella whose rib unit 6 has first ribs 61, middle ribs 66, second ribs 64 and main stretchers 65. The inner end of each first rib 61 is pivotably connected to the first cap 4 and the inner end of each main stretcher 65 is pivotably connected to the second cap 5. The outer end of each main stretcher 65 is pivotably connected to the first rib 61. The positioning portion 7 is connected to the top of the shaft 1 and the positioning rib unit 8 is pivotably connected to the positioning portion 7. The positioning rib unit 8 has the main rib 83 which is pivotably connected to inside of the positioning portion 7. Alternatively, the main rib 83 can be pivotably connected to outside of the positioning portion 7 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The positioning portion 7 ensures that the positioning rib unit 8 does not move left and right and the gore 10 is stably opened when the umbrella is opened.

As shown in FIG. 22, when the umbrella is folded, the frame unit 3, the first cap 4, the second cap 5 and the rib unit 6 are folded at one side of the shaft 1, and the positioning rib unit 8 is folded at the other side of the shaft 1. The first cap 4 is located higher than the top of the shaft 1. Therefore, the frame unit 3, the first cap 4, the second cap 5 and the rib unit 6 are folded toward the shaft 1 and the folded umbrella is compact and easily carried.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show that the positioning portion 7 is located on the top of the runner 2, and the positioning portion 7 has a pivotal hole 71 which is located close to the inside of the center of the umbrella. The positioning rib unit 8 has a main rib 81 which has a second rib 6 a pivotably connected to the outer end thereof. The inner end of the main rib 81 is a V-shaped end or a flat end as shown in FIG. 8. The main rib 81 has a positioning hole 811 which is located at the inner end of the main rib 81 and the first link 31 is pivotably connected to the positioning hole 811. The main rib 81 and the first link 31 both are pivotably connected to the pivotal hole 71 of the positioning portion 7. The main rib 81 is connected to the positioning portion 7, so that when opening the umbrella, the positioning portion 7 is cooperated with the frame unit 3 to open the umbrella. Under the tension of the gore, the positioning rib unit 8 does not shake left and right so as to stably open the gore 10.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show that the positioning portion 7 is connected to the top of the runner 2 and has a pivotal hole 71 which is located close to the outside of the center of the umbrella. The positioning rib unit 8 has a main rib 81, the main rib 81 has a second rib 6 a pivotably connected to the outer end thereof. The inner end of the main rib 81 is a V-shaped end or a flat end as shown in FIG. 10. The main rib 81 has a positioning hole 811 which is located at the inner end thereof. The first link 31 is pivotably connected to the positioning hole 811. The main rib 81 and the first link 31 both are pivotably connected to the pivotal hole 71 of the positioning portion 7. The main rib 81 is connected to the positioning portion 7, so that when opening the umbrella, the positioning rib unit 8 does not shake left and right so as to stably open the gore 10.

FIGS. 11, 12, 13 and 14 show that a first pulling unit 84 is connected between the inner end of the second rib 6 a and the first link 31. In this embodiment, the first pulling unit 84 is a V-shaped wire or a pair of straight wires as shown in FIGS. 12 and 14. FIGS. 15 and 16 show that a second pulling unit 85 is connected between the inner end of the main rib 81 and the second link 32. In this embodiment, the second pulling unit 85 is a U-shaped wire or a pair of straight rods as shown in FIG. 16.

The positioning portion 7, the main rib 81, the frame unit 3, the first pulling unit 84 and the second pulling unit 85 are pivotably connected to each other by way of riveting, engaging or the like.

FIGS. 19, 20, 21 show that the umbrella is a stick umbrella and the rib unit 6 is a straight rib 67. The inner end of the rib 67 is pivotably connected to the first cap 4 and the inner end of the main stretcher 65 is pivotably connected to the second cap 5. The outer end of the main stretcher 65 is pivotably connected to the middle portion of the rib 67. The positioning portion 7 is connected to the top of the shaft 1 and has a positioning rib unit 8 whose inner end is pivotably connected to the positioning portion 7. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 20, 21, the positioning portion 7 is connected to the positioning rib unit 8 whose inner end is pivotably connected to the first link 31 of the frame unit 3. By the positioning portion 7, when opening the umbrella, the positioning rib unit 8 does not shake left and right so as to stably open the gore 10.

Instead of being used with the stick umbrellas, the two-stage umbrellas or the multiple-stage umbrellas, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the present invention can be used on the manual umbrellas, the auto-opening umbrellas, the auto-folding umbrellas, or the auto-opening/auto-folding umbrellas. The positioning portion 7 is cooperated with the frame unit 3, when opening the umbrella and under the tension of the gore, the positioning rib unit 8 does not shake left and right so as to stably open the gore 10.

As shown in FIG. 23, each of the top of the shaft 1 and the top of the runner 2 has one positioning portion 7. By the two respective positioning portions 7, the positioning rib unit 8 does not shake left and right so as to stably open the gore 10.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An umbrella comprising: a shaft and a runner movably mounted to the shaft; a frame unit connected to the runner and a top of the shaft, the frame unit having a first link and a second link, the first and second links pivotably connected to each other at two respective mediate portions thereof, the frame unit extending laterally from the shaft, a distal end of the first link connected to a first cap, a distal end of the second link connected to a second cap; a rib unit connected to the first and second caps, a gore connected to the rib unit and located offset from an axis of the shaft, and a positioning portion connected to the top of the shaft or a top of the runner, a positioning rib unit pivotably connected to the positioning portion, the positioning rib unit pivotably connected to the frame unit, when the umbrella is opened, the positioning rib unit is stable and the gore is stably opened by the positioning portion.
 2. The umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioning portion is connected to the top of the shaft, the positioning rib unit has a positioning stretcher which is pivotably connected between the runner and the positioning rib unit.
 3. The umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioning portion is connected to the top of the runner and has a pivotal hole which is located close to an inside of a center of the umbrella, the positioning rib unit has a main rib, the main rib has a second rib pivotably connected to an outer end thereof, the main rib has a positioning hole which is located at an inner end thereof and the first link is pivotably connected to the positioning hole, the main rib and the first link both are pivotably connected to the pivotal hole of the positioning portion.
 4. The umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioning portion is connected to the top of the runner and has a pivotal hole which is located close to an outside of a center of the umbrella, the positioning rib unit has a main rib, the main rib has a second rib pivotably connected to an outer end thereof, the main rib has a positioning hole which is located at an inner end thereof and the first link is pivotably connected to the positioning hole, the main rib and the first link both are pivotably connected to the pivotal hole of the positioning portion.
 5. The umbrella as claimed in claim 3, wherein a first pulling unit is connected between an inner end of the second rib and the first link.
 6. The umbrella as claimed in claim 4, wherein a first pulling unit is connected between an inner end of the second rib and the first link.
 7. The umbrella as claimed in claim 3, wherein a second pulling unit is connected between the inner end of the main rib and the second link.
 8. The umbrella as claimed in claim 4, wherein a second pulling unit is connected between the inner end of the main rib and the second link.
 9. The umbrella as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first pulling unit is a V-shaped wire or a pair of straight wires.
 10. The umbrella as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second pulling unit is a U-shaped wire or a pair of straight rods.
 11. The umbrella as claimed in claim 3, wherein the inner end of the main rib is a V-shaped end.
 12. The umbrella as claimed in claim 4, wherein the inner end of the main rib is a V-shaped end.
 13. The umbrella as claimed in claim 3, wherein the inner end of the main rib is a flat end.
 14. The umbrella as claimed in claim 4, wherein the inner end of the main rib is a flat end.
 15. The umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioning rib unit has a main rib which is pivotably connected to an inside or outside of the positioning portion.
 16. The umbrella as claimed in claim 2, wherein the positioning rib unit has a main rib which is pivotably connected to an inside or outside of the positioning portion.
 17. The umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein umbrella is a stick umbrella, a two-stage umbrella or a multiple-stage umbrella.
 18. The umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein umbrella is a manual umbrella, an auto-opening umbrella, an auto-folding umbrella, or an auto-opening/auto-folding umbrella.
 19. The umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the top of the shaft and the top of the runner has one positioning portion. 